“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” — Rabindranath Tagore
A few nights ago we were blessed with one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve witnessed in my 50 years on Earth. This thought was confirmed when I logged on to Facebook to post my sunset pics and found some of my friends and family had already posted theirs. The shot above was taken by my son.
Over the years I’ve gotten my whole family watching sunrises and sunsets. We’ll be carrying on with our lives, either trying to get out the door (sunrise) or get inside the door after a long day (sunset), and I’ll just stop and gaze into the heavens.
“What’s wrong, daddy?” my daughter asked the first time she noticed me doing this.
“Nothin’ babygirl. Would you look at that sky…”
Now, on days I’m wallowing in pain or self-pity, they tell me about God’s artistry.
“Babe,” my wife says with a smile, “c’mere and look at this sky. WOW.”
“When you’re a kid everything’s new. Dawn. Like the way you dig sunsets, that’s gold.” — Johnny Cade, “The Outsiders”
Not concerning myself with whether this next statement sounds overly sentimental, I’d like to state emphatically that the beauty which, twice in a 24-hour period, stretches across the sky on cloudless days, is a reminder of the beauty of God’s creation. To me, it’s reassurance that He’s still here, and He still loves me.
“Boy, look at all those stars. Bet you can see every star there is. Practical touch ’em. Kinda makes you think, you know? I mean you look up and you think God made all that but he still remembered to make a little speck like me. Kinda flattering, really.” — Morgan Earp, “Tombstone”
I think of it as a time for the Lord to STOP everything, for just a few minutes, and paint the sky with multi-colored splendor. The oranges and golds and purples and pinks and reds. Man, it’s breathtaking.
“Have a great day,” God breathes expectantly into the sunrise, “and remember, I love you. No matter what the day brings, you can handle it, for nothing is impossible with Me.”
“Today had its challenges,” the Lord whispers encouragingly in the sunset, “but you made it. I love you, and am so proud of you!”
I’m fully aware some will think me a hopeless romantic, or mushy/gushy/sappy. I don’t care.
There is much beauty in this world, but it’s possible you have been missing it lately because you’ve been too busy fighting off demons.
The demon of pain.
The demon of misery.
The demon of despair.
The demon of hopelessness.
The demon of depression.
Well, I’m here to tell you: you’re going to make it. In His attempt to change your fear to faith, God has encased you in grandeur; you just have to be willing to open your eyes.
You can make it through this trial, I’m tellin’ ya. I may have not been through what you’re going through, but I’ve endured copious amounts of HELL myself, and I know all things are possible with Christ. He saved my life when I didn’t deserve it, simply because He loves me.
After all, if you keep your eyes closed, all you see is darkness, right?
“From sunrise brilliance to sunset beauty, lift up his praise from dawn to dusk! For he rules on high over the nations with a glory that outshines even the heavens. No one can be compared to God, enthroned on high! He stoops down to look upon the sky and the earth. He promotes the poor, picking them up from the dirt, and rescues the needy from the garbage dump. He turns paupers into princes and seats them on their royal thrones of honor. God’s grace provides for the barren ones a joyful home with children so that even childless couples find a family. He makes them happy parents surrounded by their pride and joy. That’s the God we praise, so give it all to him! (Psalm 113:3-9)”
You’re gonna make it. God didn’t bring you this far to leave you to die of thirst in this desert.
Blessings, my friends.
Broken People 